Blade handle



Oct. 10, 1967 v H. E. PAULSON ETA!- 7 I BLADE HANDLE Original Filed Dec. 29, 1964 I '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7" 7 L76 INVENTOR HARoLufT PAuLso/v ALFRED A. PA'uLso/v BY MGQMH 0C1; 10, 1967 u so ErAL 3,345,743

' I BLADE HANDLE Original Filed Dec. 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HA R01. 0 E PAULSON Agln'o R. PAuLs'o/v ATTORNEY INVENTOR United States Patent ()fiice 3,345,743 Patented Oct. 10, 1967 3,345 ,7 43 BLADE HANDLE Harold E. Paulson, 842 W. Nebraska, St. Paul, Minn.

This application is a continuation of applicants Ser. No. 421,983, filed Dec. 29, 1964, and now abandoned.

This application relates to an invention for a detachable blade handle for use in combination with blades particularly such as those used in cutting meats, poultry, and the like.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a handle in which the tank of the knife blade is held in a socket in the handle in which means are provided to hold the tang in a position of being positively held to a position of being half Ways partially rejected from the handlesocket.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means in the handle for positively engaging the tang of the knife blade whereby the knife blade is drawn into the socket in one direction of movement and at least partially ejected from the socket in another direction of movement.

In general many industries dealing in meat processing involve the usage of a wide variety of blades having particular characteristics of'hardness, non-corrosiveness, and the like. These blades normally must retain a keen cutting edge in order to be efficient. In order to maintain this cutting edge, it is necessary that the blades be repeatedly honed or sharpened. In the course of the sharpening process, the blades obviously wear until they become quite reduced in size. Normally, it is expedient that the blades, together with their handles, be capable of being subjected to sterilizing processes. With conventional handles which are permanently secured to the blades, the major proportion of the cost of the knife is the cost of the handle. This cost is lost at the time that the blade is worn to a size where it can no longer be used.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a handle which may be repeatedly used in order to eliminate the cost of providing a handle at the time a new blade is procured. In other words, the blade which has been worn to the point of being discarded is simply replaced by another blade and the same handle may be used.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a handle adapted to be used with blades of various sizes, both in length and thickness, wherein the blades have tangs which are similar. It will be obvious that a marked saving is produced. It will further be apparent that a variety of blades for different purposes may be used with a single handle. Obviously, the cost saving is tremendous.

It has further been a problem to provide handles connected to the blades whereby the handles themselves were not readily sterilized. In some instances, the handles were composed of a material which did not readily lend itself to sterilization, wood being one such material. On the other hand, in the usual construction the handle was comprised of a pair of pieces overlying the tang and being riveted thereto. In the course of usage in some cases the handles themselves became partially separated from the tang thereby providing access to undesirable material, and obviously being difiicult to clean.

Itis an object of the present invention to provide a handle which may be made of a variety of mate-rials such as plastic, various metals, and the like which may be repeatedly sterilized as needed.

It has been a further problem in the past to provide detachable blade handles which did not become quite loose in repeated usage. Where detachable handles have been provided, they have generally been successful only with the lighter cutting tools such as are used for modeling. While it has long been desirable to have a detachable handle, various defects either in the mechanism used to lock the blades in place, the difiiculty of sterilization, the tendency to fail to hold the blades firmly, and the high costs have failed to bring any degree of great popularity or success.

The present invention provides a handle having a generally vertical socket extending from one end to a point short of the other end of the handle. The tang of the knife blade has at least a single notch along one edge of the tang which is designed to engage a catch lug connected to a movable shaft in the handle body. Means are provided externally of the handle whereby the shaft may be moved within the handle body to engage the catch lug in the tang notch. When the catch lug is engaged in the tang notch, movement of the shaft toward or away from the open end of the socket produces a related movement of the tang. Obviously, in one direction the tang is drawn into the socket, and in the other direction of movement the tang is urged from the socket. The tang is of a length corresponding generally to that of the socket.

We have found that the compound leverage produced by our invention may be induced in various ways. In the preferred invention we provide a tang having a series of notches in spaced relation along one edge of the tang. A shaft having a raised helical lug such as a thread enengages the notches of the tang to draw the tang into the socket in one direction or to at least partially expel the tang in another direction of movement. The shaft is supported within the handle body so as to rotate freely on a portion of the shaft extending externally of the handle. A slot is provided in the externally extending portion of the shaft in which the head of a screw driver may be placed to rotate the shaft. A sanitary sealing member is provided in encircling relation to the shaft within the handle body so as to prevent the entrance of any foreign matter.

In a modification thereof we provide a shaft having a U-shaped catch lug pivotally secured to the internal end of the shaft by a pivot pin extending through one of the arms of the U-shaped lug. The other arm of the lug is adapted to engage into a notch in the tang. The shaft extending toward the other end of the handle includes male and female threaded members with a portion of the shaft extending externally. Rotation of the shaft causes the male member to be drawn toward or away from the end of the handle thereby urging the U-shaped member toward or away from the open end of the socket. To cause the U-shaped member to pivot into or out of engagement with the tang notch, the handle includes an internal track in which the catch lug moves. As the lug moves in one direction, the end of the lug striking against the end of the tang notch urges the lug downwardly into a receiving recess in the handle body. As the lug is moved in the opposite direction, a rise in the body causes the lug to pivot upwardly so as to engage in the notch of the tang.

In a modification employing a similar shaft and generally U-shaped lug construction, a channel is provided in the handle body interior in which the shaft slides. The U-shaped lug is pivotally connected at the inner end of the shaft and a lever is connected to the other end of the shaft pivotally. The lever is generally L-shaped and is of spring steel having an enlarged terminal end. The L- shaped lever has its short arm connected to the shaft to provide a means of moving the shaft inwardly and outwardly in the handle body, the lever being secured in a groove in the end of the handle and along its lower side with the terminal end of the lever springably secured in a recess.

In each instance the shaft is mounted so as to be movable Within the handle body and sanitary sealing members such as washers are provided to prevent entrance of foreign material into the handle. It is obvious, therefore, that the handle is not only sanitary to begin with, but remains sanitary while it is in use. It is, of course, obvious that the handle may be sterilized repeatedly with no difficulty since all of the interior portions of the handle are accessible for sanitizing easily. On the other hand, the handle provides a very tight seal with the knife tang at one end and with the sealed other end of the handle, a marked advantage in detachable handles is secured.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide detachable handles which may be made in two pieces and joined together along corresponding edges for simplicity in manufacture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a detachable handle which may be made quite cheaply and which is strong in construction and requires no maintenance.

It will be understood that a variety of blades are possible having particular characteristics of thickness, length, hardness, and non-corrosiveness and other advantages, and blades are interchangeable in the handle as desired. It is therefore possible to continue sharpening a blade until it becomes extremely worn before throwing it away, and at that point a new blade may be readily inserted in the handle.

These and other particular advantages and objects will be more particularly described and detailed in the accompanying specification taken in conjunction with the drawings herein in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a longitudinal section of the handle with the tang of the blade fully inserted into the handle and showing the relationship of the helical threading of the shaft to the notch portion of the tang.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the handle in FIG- URE 1 in which the blade tang is partially ejected from the handle.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section taken through the handle of FIGURE 1 along the lines 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a modified form of structure in which the shaft is disposed transversely through the handle and has teeth in engagement in the notches of the tang.

FIGURE 5 is a cross section of the handle of FIG- URE 4 taken along the lines 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a modified form of structure illustrating a tang having a single notch engageable with one arm of a generally U-shaped pivotal member secured by its other arm to a shaft adapted to move the U-shaped member toward and away from the open end of the socket.

FIGURE 7 is a cross section taken through the handle of FIGURE 6 along the lines 77.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation of the handle of FIG- i URE 6 illustrating the handle construction whereby pivoting of the U-shaped member occurs.

FIGURE 9 is a View of the handles of FIGURE 6 in which the tang has been partially ejected from the socket and release of the arm from the tang notch has occurred.

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation of a modified handle structure in which the means whereby the shaft is moved toward or away from the open end of the socket is controlled through the use of a lever, the lever being shown in its locked position.

FIGURE 11 is a view of the handle of FIGURE 10 with the lever member in unlocked position, and the tang partially ejected from the handle socket.

FIGURE 12 is an end elevation of the handle of FIG- URE 10 in which the pivotal relationship of the L- shaped lever to the shaft and handle is clearly seen.

FIGURES 1 and 2 show a handle generally numbered '10 which is somewhat elongated and as may be seen in FIGURE 3 is generally cylindrical in shape. As may be further seen in FIGURES l and 2 portions of the handle may be shaped concavely as indicated at 12 to permit a better grip by the fingers of the handle. Additionally the upper portion of the handle may be sloped as indicated at 14 in FIGURE 2 to enable a better grip by the heel portion of the hand. FIGURE 1 shows a blade generally numbered 16 with most of the cutting portion of the blade broken away. The blade 16 has a tang portion 18 which may be slightly less width than the blade portion as indicated at 20. The tang of the blade is of a length corresponding to the length of a socket numbered 22 as shown in FIGURE 2. The open end of the socket is of a height and width to snugly receive the tang 18. Preferably the socket opening should be such as to closely fit the tang with the abutting portions 24 and 26 where the tang reduces in size from the main blade completely closing the opening to the socket.

As has been mentioned, the socket is of a length corresponding generally to the length of the tang so that when the tang is fully inserted in the socket, no further rearward movement is possible.

The handle may be made of any desirable material such as plastic, nylon or various other synthetics as well as metals. Since the handles will normally be subjected to sterilizing processes, it is preferred that the material be such that it will not be subjected to corrosion from such sterilizing. Additionally, the handle should not be subject to warping or have a tendency to absorb, and the various materials set out, are deemed as illustrative. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 the end of the tang 28 in the retracted position fits snugly against the cooperating portion of the socket 30. The end of the tang is shown as being arcuate, but this is not a necessity.

In the preferred construction, the under surface of the tang has a series of spaced notches extending longitudinally along one edge of the tang. The notches which are similar have been generally indicated by the number 32. The notched portion of the tang is adapted to receive lugs or treads 34 which are helically arranged on a shaft 36. The shaft 36 extends longitudinally in the handle in underlying relation to the path of the tang. The shaft has an accessible end 38 having a slot 40 in which a screw driver end such as indicated by 42 may be inserted to rotate the shaft within the body of the handle.

The handle is constructed in such a manner so that the end 38 of the shaft is enclosed in the handle with only the slotted end being externally accessible. The end 3% acts as a bearing end of the shaft as well and addition ally seals against a portion 44 of the handle. The sealing is accomplished by providing the slotted end 38 of a larger size than the major portion of the shaft. A second bearing portion of the shaft is provided spaced inwardly along the shaft from the end 3 8 as indicated at 46, this bearing and seal member 46 rota-ting in a groove in the handle body. It is evident that by having the bearing 46 and end 38 of a larger circumference than the shaft portion 48 enables the interior of the handle to be effectively E' sealed at the rear end of the handle. The forward end of the shaft 50 rotates freely in a recess portion 52 of the socket.

The shaft may be made of steel or other durable metals, and in addition may be made of synthetic elements such as nylon. As the shaft rotates, the helieally threaded portion of the shaft engages within the notches 32 of the tang to move the tang into or out of positively held position in the handle body.

As may be seen in FIGURE 1 when the tang is in the fully retracted position, it is secured tightly throughout its length by the portions of the body defining the socket. The end of the tang 28 abutting against the end of the socket 30 prevents further retraction and permits the threaded portion 34 of the shaft to positively hold the tang against the end 39 of the socket. Rotation of the shaft in a counter-clockwise direction moves the tang toward ejection from the socket. As rotation in a counterclockwise direction continues, the tang is eventually moved to the position shown in FIGURE 2 in which it is partially ejected from the socket and the threads 34 are disengaged from the notch portion of the tang.

It will be understood that the threads of the shaft wedge against the portions of the tang defining the notches in the fully retracted position so as to completely eliminate any movement of the blade. Since no portion of the mechanism is externally exposed so as to be moved inadvertently, the blade retains its locked positive position until a change is desired.

FIGURE 3 shows the tang 18 in engagement with the threads 34. It is obvious from the view illustrated that the blade is not subject to movement inadvertently either laterallyor longitudinally.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a modification of the preferred form of construction shown in FIGURES l, 2, and 3. A shaft is provided having an externally exposed end 54 which is slotted as indicated at 56 to receive the tip of a screw driver. As may be seen in FIGURE 5, the shaft 58 is transversely disposed in the handle and may be slotted on both ends as indicated at 56 and 60.

Attached lugs or teeth such as 62 are provided to engage in notches 64 in the edge of the tang. The teeth of the shaft engage in the notches to retract or eject the tang from the handle socket.

The outer portions of the transverse shaft are smaller in comparison to the intermediate portions of the shaft and provide an efiicient seal with the enclosing portions of the handle surrounding them. Sealing washers may be provided internally of the exterior ends of the shaft if desired to further insure sanitation.

"FIGURE shows the relation of the tangto the gear teeth and further illustrates the compactness of the structure holding the tang tightly in the handle body.

As has been illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, and 4, the end of the tang having the notches may be reduced in height to enable a more effective gearing size to be used. H FIGURES 6-9 illustrate a handle of material similar tothose previously'described in which modification has been made in the tang structure and mechanism for engagingand moving the tang. FIGURE 7 shows the tang in a fully retracted position in the socket of the handle whereas FIGURE 9 shows the tang in a partially ejected position. 7

As may be clearly seen in FIGURE 6 the tang strucfure employs a single notchin the lower edge of the tang as indicated at 66. The notch is in the form of a generally inverted U with the forward end of the notch being somewhat sharply sloped forwardly as indicated at 68, while the rear end of the notch as indicated at 70 is generally vertical. The handle body includes a longitudinally extending slot 72 in which a two-piece shaft moves toward and away from the open end of the socket. The shaft has a forward end 74 having an externally threaded rear end portion 76 which is threaded into an internally threaded sleeve 78 having an externally accessible end 80 which is slotted as indicated at 82 to receive the tip of the screw driver. The sleeve 78 has an enlarged bearing portion 84 which further serves as a seal to the outside.

As the sleeve 78 is rotated in one direction or the other, the shaft 74 is moved toward or away from the open end of the socket.

At the forward end of the shaft portion 74, the shaft has a pair of parallel extensions in spaced relation. These extensions are simply a portion of the shaft in which the intermediate portion has been removed to provide support members to hold in pivotal relation a generally U-shaped member 88. The member 88 has one arm 90 pivotally secured between the extensions such as 92 by a pin 94. This rear arm 90' really pivots in relation to the shaft portion 74 as the shaft moves forwardly and rearwardly in the handle. The other arm 96 has a substantially straight rear surface and a convex opposed forward surface. The arm 96 engages against the rear of the not-ch 70 when holding the tang in locked engagement or when the tang is being retracted into the handle socket. When the shaft moves forwardly the convex arcuate end of the arm 96 strikes against the forward sloped portion 68 of the tang to urge the tang from its retracted position in the socket.

The U-shaped member in its preferred construction is relatively flat and has a relatively deep body portion intermediate the arms 90 and 96. The arm 96 is preferably of a width greater than the width of the tang so as to avoid any possibility that desired contact will not be made with the forward or rear portions of the notch 66. The intermediate body portion slopes deeply down from the arms to an apex point. The socket of the handle is shaped so as to provide a defined line of travel for the U-shaped hatch. To accomplish this the various positions of movement of the U-shaped catch member, we provide a generally W-shaped recess with the V portions of W being relatively elongated and concave to receive the convex under surface of the U-shaped member 88. Accordingly, an intermediate portion of the W-shaped socket portion has an apex 100 which serves as a fulcrum or pivot against which the U-shaped member will engage.

In FIGURE 9 the U-shaped member is in the retracted position. As the shaft is urged forwardly, the U-shaped member underbody 88 follows the contour of the socket. The arcuate forward end 97 of the arm 96 strikes against the sloped edge 68 to begin urging the tang from the handle socket. As the shaft continues to move forward, the forward downward sloping of the notch causes the member to pivot downwardly. As further travel of the shaft ensues the other arm 90 strikes against the end 91 of the tang to eject the tang partially from the socket and to completely free the catch-arm 96 from the notch 66. It should be appreciated that a double movement ensues since the U-shaped member travels in a straight line until its arcuate forward end strikes the sloped portion of the tang at which point the tang begins to be ejected and the pivoting action of the U-shaped member begins. With further travel, further pivoting occurs about the apex point 190 with the tang being ejected more as movement occurs and the catch arm being less and less engaged in the notch. As still further shaft movement occurs the pivoting is increased by the engagement of the arm against the end of the tang 91 to the point where the arm 96 is prevented from further movement by the end of the socket as indicated at 102.

A further modified structure is shown in FIGURES l0, l1, and 12 in which the handle provides a slot or track in which a shaft 104 travels. As in the earlier modification the shaft may be in two parts with a necked portion 106 connecting them. A sanitary washer 108 is provided between the shaft portions 104 and 109 to seal the passage to the outside. The structure of the U-shaped member and the tang notch is generally similar to that previously described for the other modification employing the U-shaped catch'member. To urge the shaft toward and away from the open end of the socket a lever arm 110 is provided. The short arm of the L-shaped lever is pivotally secured to the shaft 164 at its external end by a pivot pin 112. The lever is preferably of a spring steel for a purpose which will be further described. As indicated, one end 114 encircles the pin 112, the relationship of the lever to the end of the handle 116 being clearly shown in FIGURE 12. The other end of the lever has an enlarged end 118 to engage with a recess 124) in the bottom of the handle when the lever is in its locked position.

As can be seen in FIGURE 11 a groove is provided centrally between the sides of the handle along the bottom edge as indicated at 122 in which the lever may lie in the locked position.

Returning to FIGURE 10, the lever is shown in the locked position with its enlarged portion 118 engaged in the recess 12%. When the lever is sprung from this position, it may be pivoted into the position shown in FIG- URE 11 wherein the elongated portion of the lever is generally perpendicular to the path of travel of the shaft 1tl4. As the groove 122 of the handle extends along the bottom edge and the rear end of the handle, the lever may be used to move the shaft 104 toward or away from the open end of the socket, the desired amount of travel in order to free the tang from engagement with the U-shaped hook member 124 or to draw the tang into a position of engagement against the rear of the handle socket.

In the FIGURE 11, the shaft is shown in a forward position with the U-shaped member 124 disengaged from the notch 126 of the tang 128. In order to place the latch in the locked position, it is necessary to move the shaft to the position shown in FIGURE wherein the pin 112 is positioned in alignment with the groove 122. At that point the lever 110 may be swung so as to lie flat along the other side of the handle. As indicated, the lever is springable and further compression on the outside of the lever will cause it to flatten out so as to permit the enlarged end 118 to engage in the recess 120.

It will be apparent from the view in FIGURE 12, that the short end of the lever arm fits snugly in the groove at the end of the handle to provide a sealing relation. As the lever is contained substantially within the groove 120, there is no likelihood of the lever being inadvertently sprung loose from a position of engagement with the handle.

It is obvious that the handles as described provide compound leverage and further that the handles provide positive sealing, retraction and ejection of the tang, the positive engagement of the tang with a locking member which may be moved into or out of a position of engagement with the tang, and a complete freedom from movement of the blade when it is in its secured position ing the handle socket.

It is obvious that a variety of materials may be interchanged to provide desired qualities of strength, utility, and freedom from undesirable qualities.

It will be apparent as the views of FIGURES 3, 5, and 7 are correlated with their related views, that the socket throughout a major proportion of its length in the handle provides a track in which the tang is free to move in the retraction or ejection, but in which the tang is prevented from moving laterally. The close fitting relationship between the tang and the socket defined by the side walls of the handle is such that the tang is braced throughout a major proportion of its length except for that portion of the tang which is in engagement with the catch lug member which may be in the form of a raised thread or projecting arms. Accordingly, the knife cannot be pivoted at the mouth end of the socket either up or down or from side to side, and as the retracting means employed provides a positive holding of the end of the tang against the end socket an extremely utilitarian handle is provided.

We have found that because of the particular structure that the shaft, the U-shaped members, the threaded gear- 3 like portion in whichever form of construction is employed, may be made of one of the durably non-corrosive, structurally strong, non-moisture absorbent synthetics, nylon for example, thereby greatly reducing the costs of construction as well as providing several aforementioned advantages.

As may be seen from the foregoing disclosure our invention provides a knife having a re-usable detachable handle which may be used with a variety of replaceable blades. The body portion includes a socket in which the tang of the knife blade is retractably and ejectably secured by means of a catch-member which is moved in engageable and releasable connection to the tang by a shaft. The socket of the handle corresponds substantially to the tang of the blade. The blade tang has at least one notch along an edge of the tang to be engaged by the catchmember. Movement of the catch-member into and out of engagement with the tang notch positively moves the tang into and out of retention in the handle socket. The shaft to which the catch-member is secured has an outer end adapted to be leverably manipulated whereby the shaft is rotated or slidably moved, depending on the form of construction, to induce movement of the catchmember. Sanitary sealing means such as rubber Washers or other suitable seal are provided intermediate the inner and outer ends of the shaft whereby the inner end of the shaft is sanitarily sealed from the outer end. Accordingly, once the tang is inserted in the handle body, the handle provides a sanitary device which is sealed from the outside to foreign elements. However, as has been previously disclosed, the handle is readily removed for replacement of the blade. It is to be noted that the recess in which the shaft is disposed communicates with the handle socket so that the shaft catch-member readily engages the notches of the tang. In the modification having the L shaped lever member at the terminal end of the shaft, it is to be noted that the L shaped member is adapted to overlie the shaft in a substantially flush relation with the outer surface of the handle, but in spaced relation to the shaft. The groove in which the L shaped member lies may be of any suitable depth corresponding to the thickness of the L shaped member as would be apparent. The L shaped member as has been indicated in the previous discussion is resilient and has its longer arm constructed so as to be concavely bowed on the side adapted to be in face relation to the handle in order to be springa'bly seoured to the handle by its engagement of its enlarged end in the recess in the outerbody surface of the handle. As the usage of materials has been indicated to be extensive, and as such is obvious in view of the disclosure, further detailing of such is believed not required.

In accordance with the patent statutes, the principles of construction and operation of this improvement in detachable blade handle have been described, and while an endeavor has been made to set forth the best embodiments thereof, it should be understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A knife blade handle in combination with a knife blade having a tang detachably secured in said handle comprising:

a pair of opposed substantially similar body portions joined along their corresponding faces to provide an elongated unitary handle body,

said body portions having similar elongated axially extending registered sockets to provide a socket in said body extending from one end of said body and terminating short of the other end of said body,

said one end defining a socket opening,

a knife blade having a tang positioned in said socket,

the length of said socket defining the length of said tang in said socket, a shaft recess in said body communicating with said socket,

a cylindrical shaft rotatably supported in said shaft recess,

said blade tang having a series of spaced notches along an edge of the tang,

said shaft having an inner end having lug means engag- 5 ing at least one notched portion of said tang,

said shaft having an externally accessible outer end disposed in said body whereby rotation of said shaft moves said tang in and out of said socket,

means intermediate said shaft inner and outer ends hold- 10 ing said shaft non-remova'bly in said body.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said shaft recess is axially disposed in said body.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said shaft recess comprises registered recesses in said body portions.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said means includes a bearing member on said shaft, said shaft recess conforming substantially to the size and shape of said shaft and said bearing member, at least a portion of said body being intermediate said bearing member and said outer end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,406,156 2/1922 Cotter et al 30162 X JAMES L. JONES, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. A KNIFE BLADE HANDLE IN COMBINATION WITH A KNIFE BLADE HAVING A TANG DETACHABLY SECURED IN SAID HANDLE COMPRISING: A PAIR OF OPPOSED SUBSTANITALLY SIMILAR BODY PORTIONS JOINED ALONG THEIR CORRESPONDING FACES TO PROVIDE AN ELONGATED UNITARY HANDLE BODY, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING SIMILAR ELONGATED AXIALLY EXTENDING REGISTERED SOCKETS TO PROVIDE A SOCKETS IN SAID BODY EXTENDING FROM ONE END OF SAID AND TERMAINTAING SHORT OF THE OTHER END OF SAID BODY, SAID ONE END DEFINING A SOCKET OPENING, A KNIFE BLADE HAVING A TANG POSITIONED IN SAID SOCKET, THE LENGTH OF SAID SOCKET DEFINING THE LENFTH OF SAID TANG IN SAID SOCKET, A SHAFT RECESS IN SAID BODY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SOCKET, A CYLINDRICAL SHAFT ROTATABLY SUPPORTED IN SAID SHAFT RECESS, SAID BLADE TANG HAVING A SERIES OF SPACED NOTCHES ALONG AN EDGE OF THE TANG, SAID SHAFT HAVING AN INNER END HAVING LUNG MEANS ENGAGING AT LEAST ONE NOTCHED PORTION OF SAID TANG, SAID SHAFT HAVING AN EXTERNALLY ACCESSIBLE OUTER END DISPOSED IN SAID BODY WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT MOVES SAID TANG IN AND OUT OF SAID SOCKET, MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID SHAFT INNER AND OUTER END HOLDING SAID SHAFT NON-REMOVABLY IN SAID BODY. 